Politicizing Beyoncé: A New Course In College

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She may be one of the biggest names in the music business. And now students at Rutgers University in New Jersey can take a class entitled, Politicizing Beyoncé.

Kevin Allred, a doctoral student and lecturer in the school’s Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, who teaches the class says, “This isn’t a course about Beyoncé’s political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama’s inauguration weekend.” Instead, students will discuss how the singer’s career and music as ways to explore American race, gender and sexual politics.

The singer’s videos and lyrics are also used and analyzed in class.

“She certainly pushes boundaries,” Allred says. “While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career, and her persona.”

Conversation in the class usually finds it’s way to discussions about the singer’s way of dressing, and her alter ego knows an “Sasha Fierce,” along with other female artists such as Billie Holliday, Nina Simone, Lady Gaga and many others.

There’s no need for husband Jay-Z to feel jealous though. He has a course name for him entitled The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Theodicy of Jay-Z at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.